A case of Senioritis.

I absolutely can not believe that it is already week 8. After this week we only have 2 more weeks and then finals week! I am somewhat hating my self a bit for procrastinating on some projects. NOW, thanks to myself, I am totally swamped with projects and homework galore for this week to get my feet back on the ground with the amount of work. Senioritis? Yep, that's right. Senioritis = my excuse. I mean, I am not a horrible student, I get good grades and usually have all of my work done way before it is due, but this year I seem to be taking things step by step, its working so far. I just can not believe how fast this term has gone by. It looks like now I need to crack down and hit the books, or the blog. Spring Break, here I come!

No Reservations...?

Deciding not to go out on a fancy dinner date on Valentine's Day and deciding that I would cook was a much better idea, not to mention relaxing! Cooking is one of my absolute favorite things to do. Even though I am still learning, I enjoy making a meal at least a couple of times a week. People seem to always have some sort of excuse to not cooking. My roommate explains to me that she may not know how to cook but she sure does know how to cook meals in the microwave! It usually is either not having enough time or saying that they just can't cook but it really is simple! (All you really have to do is follow the directions!) Yeah the clean up part is the worst but at least you know you ate a healthy, REAL meal and not just something you picked up in the fast food drive-thru. Not to mention, you can find really healthy yet tasty recipes for you to follow. Here are some of my favorite recipes:

Chicken Parmesan 

Ingredients

29 oz canned diced tomatoes, with Italian herbs (2 cans)   

1 tsp italian seasoning   

1/2 tsp dried basil   

1/2 tsp dried oregano   

1/2 tsp black pepper   

1 Tbsp sugar   

1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar   

1 pound(s) uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, four 4-oz pieces   

1/2 cup(s) seasoned bread crumbs, Italian   

4 tsp olive oil, divided   

1 spray(s) cooking spray   

3/4 oz shredded part-skim mozzarella cheeses   

1/4 cup(s) grated Parmesan cheese, fresh   

Instructions

Combine first 5 ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 35 minutes. Stir in sugar and vinegar; simmer 5 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350°.

Place each chicken breast half between 2 sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap; pound to 1⁄2-inch thickness, using a meat mallet or rolling pin. Dredge chicken in breadcrumbs.

Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 chicken breast halves to pan; cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until browned. Repeat procedure with remaining oil and chicken breast halves.

Arrange chicken in an 11 x 7-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Pour tomato mixture evenly over chicken, and sprinkle with cheeses. Cover and bake at 350° for 35 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes. Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 chicken breast half, 3⁄4 cup tomato mixture, and 1 ounce cheese mixture).

Waffle Iron Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

2 spray(s) cooking spray   

2/3 cup(s) light cream cheese, at room temperature   

1/3 cup(s) unpacked brown sugar   

1/3 cup(s) sugar   

  1 large egg(s)   

1 tsp vanilla extract   

1/2 cup(s) whole-grain wheat flour   

1/2 cup(s) all-purpose flour, unbleached   

1/4 tsp table salt   

1/2 tsp baking soda   

2 Tbsp fat-free skim milk   

6 oz mini chocolate chips

Instructions

Heat the waffle iron according to the manufacturer's instructions.

In a large bowl, whisk the butter and brown sugar until smooth. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the oats and chocolate chips.

Coat the grids of the waffle iron with nonstick cooking spray. Use a tablespoon or small ice cream scoop to portion out a cookie onto each waffle square. Close the iron and cook until set and beginning to brown, 1-1/2 to 3 minutes, depending on the heat of your waffle iron. Use a thin metal spatula to transfer the cooked cookies to a wire rack and repeat with the remaining dough, coating the grids with spray as necessary.

America's #1 Dad!

America's #1 Dad! 

Yep. This is a drawing that a friend of mine did and placed it within a children's playground. My feelings on new media, such as television, internet, video games etc. are pretty strong. 

I believe that today parents have every right to be concerned with the new trend of having their child constantly being surrounded by some aspect of technology. Children are succumbed by new and "cool" technology and seem to always want to have the newest gadget on the market. I feel they are forgetting what it is like to even step outside.

For example, the little boy I nanny, on our very first day together, (he had just turned 6) he had spent 6 hours, (yes, really 6 hours) playing Pirates of the Caribbean play station game. Yet, when I asked him if he had ever gone mini golfing, fishing or to a water park, his answer was no to all of them. I couldn't BELIEVE that a 6 year old boy had never been mini golfing. So, from that day on, I now only allow a small time in the morning for video games/other technology and then for the rest of the day we go do various OUTSIDE activities. Together, he has now gone fishing, mini golfing and down a water slide.

This drawing portrays how many parents often just place their children in front of a T.V. or video game and then they don't have to worry about them. Essentially, technology is almost raising our children today! The fact that this drawing placed at an EMPTY playground also suggests that children again are more content sitting on the couch rather than going outside and being active. Technology is slowly becoming America's new parent, we just don't realize it yet...Scary?

SICK of the SNOW?

Living in Chicago has it's fair share of ups and downs. But, let me tell you, I'm not sure I ever want to see this much snow again! It has been almost a week since the famous, "Blizzard of 2011" and the streets, alley ways, parking lots etc. are STILL not clean. I understand that the city is working hard to get this all back to normal, but I am tired of getting my car stuck just attempting to get it into the garage on my alley way. I just miss the sun. Not to mention I just have a small old shovel; no big, easy snow plow to help out this situation. It is seriously dangerous to walk down the streets and sidewalks just to get to class. I have never wanted spring break to come so fast, just so I can have one week of getting out of Chicago and not see the snow! Will it ever melt?

I do have to say though that the snow days were pretty fun! And actually seeing all the aftermath of 20 some inches of snow. Chicago's world literally come to a stop. In our fast paced world today, this is a hard thought to wrap our heads around, as you can see from my impatience of getting back to speed. But, check out this video of Lake Shore Drive on Wednesday morning of the Blizzard on Lake Shore Drive!

Ya betta send roses to da house! ya hear meh! ROSES!

Good ole, Jersey Shore nights. How could I not want to sit here and blog about it? This week Ron and Sam fought per usual, Snooki fell asleep in the dog's bed and Paulie D was hilarious. Yes, I am totally and not even embarrassed to say that I am completely addicted to Jersey Shore. I have actually even made the famous "Ron Ron" drinks before. So many people are constantly talking about this show, including myself. But what REALLY makes this show so entertaining? Is it the grenade whistle or the really gelled hair? Either way, I can't seem to stop watching it. Guilty Pleasure? Not to mention all the media attention that J-Shore gets is insane! Well, see you later guidos and guidettes. Cabbbsss heaaaa!